By Chris Mbunwe
Some 11 people suspected of murdering John Kohtem, the Social Democratic Front, SDF, District Chairman of Balikumbat, were Monday, September 13, transferred to the Gendarmerie Brigade at Mile Four, Nkwen, Bamenda.In a chat with The Post at Mile Four, the gendarmes on duty said the 11 suspects were being interrogated, in order to establish their case files.
They said their hierarchy had instructed that the names of the arrested suspects should not be disclosed to the press.It would be recalled that the 11 suspects, who were arrested two weeks after Kohtem’s death, were whisked off from Balikumbat and detained in Bamunka, Ndop, the administrative headquarters of Ngoketunjia Division.
Though the suspects are being detained at Mile Four, the Gendarmerie Legion Commander and the Attorney General of the Northwest Province are in charge of them. In a recent press release, the Minister of Communication, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, assured Cameroonians and the international community that the people suspected to have contributed in beating John Kohtem to death, if found guilty after investigations, shall face the law, their social statues not withstanding.
“Cameroon is a state of law, which has established the equality of all in front of the law, as well as a judicial independence guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic,” Fame Ndongo stated. Kohtem, a cripple, was reportedly beaten to death at Small Market, Balikumbat, on August 20, as he was returning from a meeting to evaluate the electoral process in Ndop.
During the meeting, which was chaired by Northwest Governor, Koumpa Issa, it is reported that Kohtem openly criticised the double and triple registrations, and other electoral malpractices allegedly carried out by the Fon of Balikumbat, Hon. Doh Gah Gwanyin.
To win elections and other challenges, strategy is crucial and of essence. This may seem an obvious conclusion. However wining strategies are not easy to come by when the opponent is entrenched,wealds both the carrot and the stick, has a big experience of the game and wants to win by hook and by crook or rather by all means. The winning strategy of any side should be in place by now. We hope that Cameroon will be edified by any party's strategy. Congratulations to Dr. Adamu Ndam Njoya. Wish you the best of Luck.
Dr. JB FODJE MD, FRCS, MBA.(510-371-2716)
Posted by: Jonas B Fodje MD, FRCS, MBA | Saturday, 23 July 2011 at 07:44 PM